Dear Pandit Ji,

Can you please give me all the details on terrace farming?

arnav@damcogroup.com

Dear Panditji,

Can you please tell me 5-6 benefits of terrace farming?

Regards
Anita
b_anita@hotmail.com

Dear Panditji,

Namaste, Wanted to know: What is terrace farming? Why is it done? How is it done? Where it is done? Please answer my questions.

Avni Gupta
avnipopstart@gmail.com

Terrace farming consists of building a series of step like benches. These benches are supported by stonewall. Each level slows the flow of water runoff, thus slowing the erosion process. They also bring in tillage areas, lands that formerly could not be farmed. Terrace farming is has been practiced in various parts of India for a very long time. Kerala is one prime example. The crops grown here are mostly rubber, tea and cardamom. In Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of north eastern India it is dominant farming pattern. It is practiced extensively in in Sikkim, too.

  Benefits: 

• It conserves soil as it slows rapid surface run-off, which otherwise erodes it, by washing away the top layer and depositing it further down the hill.
• It creates flat areas on each of the terraces (steps) that is useful for harvesting and using machinery. Lower terraces aren’t eroded by rapid surface run-off, and the highest terraces still get water.
• Before, this water would have run straight downhill.
• It is also a good flood control method because the terraces hold water back.
• It reduces initial stream flow, allows more water to soak into the ground locally, and stretches out the flow over a longer period of time.

Dear Sir,

Please guide me and answer my questions:

1. As a student how can you help in conservation of water?
2. What is Rain water harvesting?
3. What is the need of rain water harvesting?
4. Why do we need to conserve water?
5. What are the various methods of water conservation?

Thanks

Prachi
student of Class VIII, Sophia Ajmer
Prachibaptist97@gmail.com

You have asked a series of questions and all of them drive home a very important message. You are seriously concerned about the status of water resources. And also that you are determined to do something about it. First let me tell you about the role you can play. Be conscious of how you use water in your everyday life. In
school, at home, and wherever you go. Make sure that not a drop is being wasted.

Now about rainwater harvesting. Rainfall is the primary source of fresh water for us. Rainwater harvesting is a traditional, time-tested technology of collecting of rainwater. It has been practiced in different states of India in spectacularly different ways. Some where the water was stored and used, while in other places which received scanty rains, it was used to recharge groundwater. It was a forgotten art for many decades, but it has been regaining popularity in the last couple of years. Thanks to the efforts of some farsighted, innovative practitioners.

For more information you may visit http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/

Hi Panditji,

I want to know how much carbon can a tree offset? senthilkumar@conquestasia.com

It is actually difficult to assess exactly how much a tree can offset carbon since it depends on the type, age, size and environment of the tree. For example, a pine tree does not consume the same amount of carbon as a banyan tree.

However, it can be said that on an average a tree can offset 1 to 1.2 tonnes of carbon in its life time. It varies from place to place and species to species.